Undoubtedly, the U.S. military is among the most diverse fighting forces in the world. Not only do my fellow soldiers fall across the socioeconomic spectrum, but our cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds are just as varied.

"The only way to get rid of ignorance is by education," Kang told ABC10. "You can only get rid of darkness by light. Enlightenment. To me, enlightenment is knowledge. Not just about Sikhs, but about any new ideas. And you have to share the education and make people aware and educate them and enlighten them and get rid of this darkness in their minds."

Noting that Sikhs can trace their ancestry in the US back to at least 100 years when many came to California to work on the railroads, it said that then also like now, Sikhs faced bias, racism and xenophobia.

Both Abdul-Qaadir and Singh have demonstrated the talent and drive to compete professionally. But the ban on headgear prevents them and others from participating in any FIBA-endorsed competition–including international tournaments such as the Olympics and World Cup and most professional leagues.